PNE target mulls over move

Dave Seddon

Preston are expected to find out early next week if they have managed to land transfer target Tommy Spurr.

The Blackburn defender is mulling over a switch to Deepdale, while he also has a contract offer on the table from Rovers.

Spurr will make a decision in the next few days once he returns from holiday, with PNE keen for an answer ahead of the start of pre-season training in a week’s time.

The 28-year-old is out of contract at Ewood Park but has been offered new terms by Blackburn.

However, North End hope they can persuade him to accept a new challenge with them.

Spurr’s representative Kevin Sharp told the Evening Post: “Tommy is a free agent and there has been a lot of interest in him.

“That is not surprising considering his age and experience – he is an attractive proposition.

“Blackburn are keen to keep him, while Preston are one of the clubs we have been in discussions with.

“Nothing will be decided until the back end of the month.”

PNE like Spurr’s versatility, with him able to operate at left-back or on the left side of a three-man defence.

With that in mind, he would provide another option in the middle together with Bailey Wright, Paul Huntington and Tom Clarke. In terms of the left-back slot, he would provide competition for Greg Cunningham.

This week, Blackburn signed Aston Villa left-back Stephen Hendrie on a season-long loan.

But Rovers manager Owen Coyle insists he still wants Spurr to stay at Ewood.

“Tommy, I imagine, is a player who’ll have many, many offers,” said Coyle.

“Ultimately we can do the best we can within our own finance because it’s not just one or two players I have to bring in to complement the squad – there are a number of positions.

“But we’d certainly like to have an experienced left-back, which Tommy obviously is, and an exciting young one.”

So far this summer, North End have landed goalkeeper Chris Maxwell and striker Simon Makienok.

Ideally they want Spurr through the door before they return to training, so too another keeper – a deal for Anders Lindegaard is understood to be close.

The Dane was on loan with PNE from West Bromwich Albion in the second half of last season and getting him on a full-time basis has been a priority this summer.

Meanwhile, North End have landed a home tie against Hartlepool United in the first round of the League Cup.

They are set to face the League Two outfit on Tuesday, August 9, at Deepdale, following on from their Championship opener at Reading three days earlier.